The Golden Bridge of Ponte Vecchio

The Golden Bridge in Florence has a difficult fate. The oldest bridge in Italy was built during the Roman Empire. But just like its brilliant masters, the bridge collapsed over time. In its place in 1117, a new bridge was built, but a few decades later the fate of its predecessor followed. The next bridge was demolished by a flood in 1333.

The bridge in Florence is an immortal thing, and therefore in 1345, under the leadership of the eminent architect Neri di Fioravanti, a new bridge was erected, in a row - the fourth bridge, which has since never fallen and has survived to this day. Over the years, the bridge turned into an endless series of butcher shops, and therefore a terrible stench emanated from the bridge. In order that His Majesty Cosimo I could safely pass from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palazzo, the architect Vasari created the second floor. Soon, the butcher shops completely disappeared, and jewelry shops and workshops appeared in their place. After that, the Golden Bridge received its famous nickname.